Providence, RI: On January 18th at approximately 1519 hours, Providence Police Patrolman James Lanier was working in the area of Dodge and Bridgham Streets when he was flagged down by a 16-year-old male subject who stated that he was the victim of a robbery that had just occurred. The victim explained to Officer Lanier that he was walking on Cranston Street towards Bridgham Street when a group of young male subjects surrounded him and one of them demanded his white iPhone 6. The victim stated that when he refused to relinquish his phone, the subject lifted up his shirt and displayed a knife in his waistband, threatening that he would “poke him” if he refused, at which time the victim surrendered his cell phone.
The victim provided Officer Lanier with a description of the subject and direction in which he fled. Officer Lanier began a search for the subject and observed an individual matching the description standing in a parking lot on Cranston Street. Officer Lanier exited his police vehicle and approached the subject while giving him loud verbal commands to remain still. At this time, the subject fled and a foot pursuit ensued. The chase continued down Lester Street, through Wiggins Village and into a yard on Central Street where Officer Lanier ordered the subject to the ground and placed him under arrest. The subject was in possession of the iPhone 6 as described by the victim as the phone taken in the robbery.
The subject was identified as a 15-year-old male from Providence. The juvenile was transported to the central station where he confessed to Providence Police Detectives that he was responsible for the robbery. He was charged with First Degree Robbery and was held at the Rhode Island Training School for the next session of Family Court. The phone was returned to the victim by police.